B. F. Skinner Quotes

The coach needs to understand, when he's not teaching something the right way or he sees something wrong, he's got to be able to admit to his mistakes.

It is my experience that in some areas [my poodle] Charley is more intelligent that I am, but in others he is abysmally ignorant. He can't read, can't drive a car, and has no grasp of mathematics. But in his own field of endeavor, which he is now practicing, the slow, imperial smelling over and anointing on an area, he has no peer. Of course his horizons are limited, but how wide are mine?

There are a lot of smart creatures out there. Dolphins, elephants, and whales are smart. And there are some really smart birds. I know some really intelligent fish. But they cannot know what humans know and are incapable of inflicting as much damage.

We can teach only if we are willing to learn.

The more one learns, the more he understands his ignorance.

Animals have always left me with a curiosity about human nature. I trust animals more than most people.

The more man learned, the more he realized he did not know.

I know what I do not know.

I don't know anything about anything. The only difference between then and now is this: I may know more than I used to but my wisdom pales in comparison to that which I have yet to learn

The dear good people don't know how long it takes to learn to read. I've been at it eighty years, and can't say yet that I've reached the goal.

It's nothing to be ashamed of. There comes a time in everything when you don't know something.

You can lead a horse to water, but if you can get him to roll over and float on his back, then you got something!

I know nothing, because I know too much, and understand not nearly enough and never will.

Before his death, Rabbi Zusya said "In the coming world, they will not ask me: 'Why were you not Moses?' They will ask me: 'Why were you not Zusya?

When one's function is to teach the loftiest wisdom, it is difficult to resist the temptation to believe that until you have spoken, nothing has been said.

We do not want to be beginners. But let us be convinced of the fact that we will never be anything else but beginners, all our life!

Before you dismiss a beginner's work, remember how much you sucked when you started. You probably sucked worse, actually.

I’m adding ‘canine’ to my searches,” I said. “And ‘instinct.’” “Whatever. I’m adding ‘lunatic.

Success is a lousy teacher.

Even today, I dare not say that I have reached a state of achievement. I'm still learning, for learning is boundless.

Anybody knows who lives with animals, they teach you more about what it is to be a good human than most people: patience, goodheartedness, enthusiasm, presence, forgiveness, focus, restfulness, honesty.

Learning is a process of mutual discovery for teacher and pupil. Keep an open mind to their unexpected responses.

Admission of ignorance is often the first step in our education.

God gave unto the Animals A wisdom past our power to see: Each knows innately how to live, Which we must learn laboriously.

The first step towards knowing is to see that you do not know.